2 
DR. O. STAPF ON SARARANGA SINUOSA. 485 
other species, so far as they have been examined. The fact 
that the vascular bundles terminate immediately below the 
stigma with a cluster of tracheids suggests that the stigma is 
supplied by them with water or perhaps a sugary liquid, but it 
is not very favourable to the assumption that the pollen-tubes 
make their way through the stigma, avoiding the tracheids and 
penetrating the surrounding collenchyma. But then the strong 
cuticle of the epidermis around the stigma is obviously a still 
greater obstacle to the pollen-tubes. Should they, however, 
descend into the pores they would reach at the bottom a tissue 
exquisitely suitable for the functions of a conductive parenchyma. 
Moreover, it is quite possible that the epidermis at the bottom 
of the pores exudes a liquid which might directly attract the 
pollen-tubes. If this be so, the stigmas would serve mainly to 
secure the pollen, whilst the sutural pores would receive the 
pollen-tubes as they grow out and guide them to the conductive 
tissue. This is, of course, nothing more than a conjecture, 
which will have to be verified on younger or living material of 
Sararanga, or even of Pandanus, where the conditions seem to 
be very similar. 
The Frutt. 
The changes which the fertilized gynaeceum undergoes to the 
point of full maturity are very simple (Pl. V. figs. 6-8). The 
gynecium grows till it reaches three or four times the original 
diameter, and mainly by the expansion of its parenchymatic 
elements, which assume all the characteristics of the cells of a 
succulent fruit. Some dried fruits and part of the preserved 
fruits were faintly tinged with red, which colour was due to 
the presence of carotine-like granules in the peripheral parts. 
Another change has already been mentioned, that which 
consists in the suberization of the stigma and the epidermis at 
the bottom of the sutural pores, which, moreover, are more or 
less completely closed by the growth of the surrounding parts. 
Thus the only spots where, in consequence of the absence of a 
well developed cuticle, excessive transpiration could take place 
ure, as it were, sealed up. Of more importance, however, are 
the changes which take place in the growing seed and the 
endocarp. The latter is formed out of the inner-cell layers of 
the carpel which disclose their destination already from an early 
stage (see p. 483 and Pl. VI. figs. 18, 23). The outermost 
